TNAG-1365-FCO40-1811-Hong-Kong-Legislative-Council-(Powers-and-Privileges)-Bill-1-1985 — Page 43

Legislative Council (Powers and Privileges) Bill

The Chairman of the Bar Association, the President of the Law

Society and the Chairman of Justice respectfully call upon

Government to defer further consideration of the Bill

preferably until the next session of the Legislative Council.

The amendments were only published by the Government last

Friday. Substantially more time should be allowed to the

public generally. And the many organizations which have

expressed concern, to consider these amendments, and to

make comments and suggestions on them.

Government's apparent attempt to have this piece of legislation

passed so speedily without any compelling reason will raise serious doubts as to the sincerity of Government in claiming

to continue the tradition of consultative government.

Although the amendments have remedied some of the most obvious

faults of the original Bill there are still certain areas that

give rise to concern :-

Clause 8(2)

It appears to be widely accepted that

Standing Orders themselves require a total

review and as they, and any amendment of

them are not subject to public scrutiny

and comment, the right to open government

should not be subject to their terms. The

words "the Standing Orders or" should

therefore be deleted.

P.